The Bugaboos

Coordinates: 50°44′45″N 116°47′21″W / 50.74583°N 116.78917°W / 50.74583; -116.78917
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Bugaboo (disambiguation).
The Bugaboos
Snowpatch Spire in the Bugaboos
Highest point
PeakHowser Spire
Elevation3,412 m (11,194 ft)
Coordinates50°44′45″N 116°47′21″W / 50.74583°N 116.78917°W / 50.74583; -116.78917
Geography
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Parent rangePurcell Mountains
Geology
Type of rockGranite batholith

The Bugaboos are a mountain range in the Purcell Mountains of eastern British Columbia, Canada. The granite spires of the group are a popular mountaineering destination. The Bugaboos are protected within Bugaboo Provincial Park.

Geography

The Bugaboos are located in the northwestern extreme of the Purcells in the Columbia Mountains, in the south-east of the province. The nearest towns are Radium and Golden. They are commonly subdivided into four divisions: the Bugaboo Glacier Peaks, and the Eastern, Central, and Western Spires. The nearby Vowell and Conrad Groups are usually considered separate from the Bugaboos.[1]

Geology

Located in the snow- and rain-heavy "Columbia Wet Belt", this section of the Purcells is subject to heavy erosion and large, active glaciers.

igneous intrusion cooled slowly, forming the crystalline structure of the hard granite found today.[1]

History

Conrad Kain

Originally named the "Nunataks", the Bugaboo spires were first noted by a surveying expedition in the late 1800s. Mining brought the first Europeans to the region with a small, ill-fated gold rush occurring in 1895 and 1896 near Bugaboo Falls. The area was prospected and staked, but the meager deposits turned out to be mostly pyrite and galena.[4] The name "Bugaboo" originated from this rush; the term was used by prospectors for a "dead-end".[5]

Climbers became interested in the group shortly after. In 1910, an expedition led by

Thomas Longstaff and surveyor Arthur Oliver Wheeler entered the area. They were guided by renowned European climber Conrad Kain.[5] Kain would return to the area six years later and pioneer many difficult climbing routes. The Austrian climber described his route up Bugaboo Spire as his most difficult Canadian ascent, more challenging than his celebrated route up Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.[5] Along with Albert and Bess McCarthy and others, Kain would pioneer first ascents of North Howser, Marmolata, and Crescent Spires.[1]

Logging in the area resulted in road construction in the 1950s and 60s. This led to a new influx of climbers.

Patagonia clothing company) established new routes on several spires.[1] The growing popularity of the area led the BC government to establish Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Park and the Bugaboo Alpine Recreation Area in 1969. The Alpine Club of Canada constructed a large hut in 1972 to reduce environmental damage to the fragile alpine meadows below the spires.[1]

Climbing and recreation

The Bugaboos have several internationally known rock climbing routes. The Beckey-Chouinard (South Howser Spire), West Ridge (Pigeon Spire), Northeast Ridge (Bugaboo Spire), Snowpatch and Surf's Up (Snowpatch Spire) attract world-class climbers. There are both bolted and free routes throughout the group.[1]

Climbers and hikers often use the 40-person

Heli-skiing and heli-hiking are conducted from the lodge into the park. Ski touring is also popular in the group during the winter.[1]

Spires

Gallery

  • Marmolata Spire and Hound's Tooth
    Marmolata Spire and Hound's Tooth
  • Pigeon Spire and Howser Spires
    Pigeon Spire and Howser Spires
  • Howser Spires from glacier
    Howser Spires from glacier
  • Summit of Pigeon Spire
    Summit of Pigeon Spire
  • Bugaboo Spire at sunrise
    Bugaboo Spire at sunrise
  • Climbers rope up below Bugaboo Spire
    Climbers rope up below Bugaboo Spire
  • Climbers rest on Bugaboo Spire
    Climbers rest on Bugaboo Spire
  • Snowpatch Spire
    Snowpatch Spire

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-9733035-1-4
    .
  2. ^ a b "Bugaboo Provincial Park". British Columbia Ministry of Environment. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  3. ^ "082KNE Geological Legend". British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  4. ISBN 978-1-894765-79-4
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 0-89886-795-9
    .

External links

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